Steve Jobs: The Loss of An American Icon

Although Steve Jobs has been sick for a long time with pancreatic cancer, it was still a shock to hear of his passing last night.  The Apple Co-Founder and former head of Pixar Animation died at the age of 56.

He certainly holds a key place in the history for his visionary ideas and implementations. He truly changed how we communicate and live our lives. 

If you haven't had the chance to watch the commencement speech he gave at Stanford in 2005, I urge you to check it out. It's incredibly inspiring and a great reminder to live your life fully and on your own terms. 

He was a brilliant man and his legacy will not be forgotten. 

  

Get Your Flu Shots!

Hey friends!

October means fall is fully underway. WEIRD. It was a hot, sticky summer day just a second ago.

Although you're probably focusing all your attention on creating your most fabulous fall wardrobe and scheming on the perfect Halloween costume, you might also want to get a seasonal health plan in place as well. Tis the season for sniffling, coughing and the flu.

Don't forget to schedule a flu shot with your doctor or at your local clinic or pharmacy. If your employer offers them at work, even better! It's so important to get them and not overly analyze whether or not they actually work. Trust me, in the past, I've had a pretty spotty record of getting them but always felt better when I did.

The fact of the matter is these shots do really prevent the flu which really is the name of the game.

So, take some time to schedule a flu shot and keep you and those around you healthy. You're office will thank you!

Most importantly, if you're in close contact with a newborn or new parent or the family of a newborn, it's crucial you get a flu shot. Newborns are too young to get flu shots for themselves and catching the flu from someone around them can actually be extremely dangerous for their health, even fatal. So don't hesitate to get shot!

As a new aunt, I'm extra paranoid, but it does remind me how important it is to provide the babies and people around us with a safe and healthy environment-as much as is in our control.

So, I hope you all stay healthy this season and avoid the flu and everything nasty that goes along with it.

Happy fall!

New York Fashion Week Spring 2012-Rachel Roy

Nakima Benjamin is a New York based fashion stylist and creative consultant. She has a knack for describing the look and feel of the slinky clothes that saunter down the runway. Ms. Benjamin was on hand at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week and lent me her expert eye while attending several fab. shows. Check out Nakima's reviews on Rachel Roy's Spring 2012 collection! 

RACHEL ROY:

It's clear that Rachel Roy was inspired by Asia this season.  Her collection featured looks with Far East details such as obi belts, Chinese porcelain prints, Mandarin collars, and kimono sleeves.  But Roy integrated Asia's influence in a very subtle way, which managed to keep the collection feeling modern and not too costumey.  More importantly, Roy delivered what so many women are seeking nowadays: looking effortlessly chic.  How do you look pulled together, modern, and stylish without having to put in too much energy and time (two things we never to seem to have enough of)?  Turn to Rachel Roy.  With a collection comprised of unfussy pieces in beautiful fabrics and comfortable shapes, it doesn't take much effort to look chic.  Look 17 - the dusted mint long vest, white crepe shell, and dusted mint elongated pencil skirt - with its clean lines and easy elegance is the perfect example.  I also loved Look 11 - the taupe tape-yarn knit dress - because it has a more raw, edgy, and unfinished feel than Roy's signature style, though she still keeps it classy.  This slight departure from Roy's typically very refined pieces demonstrates her ability to break from her usual mold successfully.  Roy kept the makeup natural and pretty with clean, luminous skin and slight color added to cheeks.  The hair, pulled back in a chignon with a soft side part, was equally as pretty.  For any woman seeking chic in 30 minutes or less, Roy should be your go-to.

For further information on Nakima's fashion editorials and advertising campaigns and to view samples of her work, go to her website - www.nakimabenjamin.viewbook.com.




Photo Credit: Style.com

New York Fashion Week Spring 2012-Nanette Lepore

While this year's fashion week took a slight backseat to the city's commemoration and remembrance of the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks, the shows still went on and were in full fashion week force. 

My favorite fashion stylist and creative consultant, Nakima Benjamin, took to the tents and got the skinny on all the latest spring styles.


Here's her review of the Nanette Lepore Spring 2012 Fashion Show:

You know how some fashion shows are so solemn, moody, dark, and serious?  Gaunt, angry looking models?  Check.  Low lights and bleak music?  Check.  A navy, gray, and black colorway?  Check.  Well, Nanette Lepore made sure her show was the antithesis of serious fashion.  The live band that supplied the entire show's soundtrack were outfitted fittingly in looks ranging from electric blue to neon pink.  Then the first model glided onto the runway in a neon orange skirt and acid yellow crop top (in the show's official program, described as "tangerine" and "citron", respectively, but in my opinion that does not to capture just how saturated and electrified the colors actually are).  The bursts of color continued with more looks incorporating bright pinks and oranges.  The knee length dresses with cap sleeves and the sleeveless sundress with a sweetheart neckline were among my favorites.  When dealing with such bright colors, I prefer to keep the silhouette simple, the lines clean, and the details minimal.  For the more daring, the textured jackets with ruffle details or the dresses with bright stripes may be more appealing.  The neon colored slip dresses with lace overlay were a nice mix of delicate and feminine with bold and daring.  Makeup was just as colorful.  Each girl had a not-so-subtle colored lip ranging from frosted purple to hot pink to coral.  When it came to hair, Lepore kept it simple: slightly slicked back hair with a bit of teasing at the top.  So, the show was a far cry from solemn, moody, dark and serious.  But that is not to say Lepore does not have some serious talent when it comes to clothing design.

 

For further information on Nakima's fashion editorials and advertising campaigns and to view samples of her work, go to her website - www.nakimabenjamin.viewbook.com.


Photo Credit: NanetteLepore.com